This was WWE's first livestreaming event in Minneapolis since TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs in 2019. This was also WWE's last livestreaming event to air on the WWE Network in international markets, as its content will move over to Netflix in January 2025. This was also the first NXT exclusive premium live event to use the WWE branding.
On November 6, 2024, at NXT 2300, WWE announced that the third Deadline would be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the Minneapolis Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This will be the first WWE livestreaming event to be held in Minneapolis since TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs in 2019. The event will air via WWE's livestreaming platforms, Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network in most international markets.[3] This will be the final WWE livestreaming event to air on the WWE Network in those areas as its content will move to Netflix in January 2025.[4]
The event comprised five matches that result from scripted storylines. Results are predetermined by WWE's writers on the NXT brand, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television program, NXT, and the supplementary online streaming show, Level Up.[5][6]
On November 6 during the special NXT episode NXT 2300, NXT General Manager Ava announced the return of Deadline.[7] Qualifiers for both the men's and women's Iron Survivor Challenges started on the November 12 episode. The first two men's spots were determined by two matches where Wes Lee and Je'Von Evans defeated Cedric Alexander and Lexis King, respectively, while the first women's spot was determined by a match where Sol Ruca defeated Cora Jade.[8] The next spots were determined on the November 19 episode. For the men's match, Nathan Frazer defeated Eddy Thorpe, while the second and third women's spots were earned by Stephanie Vaquer and Zaria, defeating OTM's Jaida Parker and No Quarter Catch Crew's Wren Sinclair, respectively.[9] The fourth spots for both the men's and women's matches were determined on the November 26 episode, with Ethan Page defeating Axiom and Giulia defeating Kelani Jordan.[10] The last spots for both matches were determined on the December 3 episode in two Last Chance matches, with Thorpe defeating Alexander, King, and Axiom, and Sinclair defeating Jade, Parker, and Jordan. However, backstage later in the night, Thorpe was attacked by a mysterious person.[11] At the day of the event, it was announced that Thorpe would not be medically cleared to compete in the match, with a replacement taking his place.[12]
On the August 13 episode of NXT, Chase University (Andre Chase and Ridge Holland) defeated Axiom and Nathan Frazer to win the NXT Tag Team Championship,[13] only to lose the titles back to them 19 days later at No Mercy. After the match, Holland viciously attacked Chase, reverting back to a heel in the process.[14] This led to an Ambulance match between Chase and Holland at Halloween Havoc, which Holland won. Later that night, Trick Williams successfully defended the NXT Championship against Ethan Page. After the match, Williams was viciously attacked by both Page and Holland until WWE Hall of FamerBubba Ray Dudley, who had been confronted by Holland on the pre-show, came out to save Williams.[15] At NXT 2300 on November 6, Page and Holland defeated Dudley and Williams, with Holland pinning Williams.[7] The following week, Williams called out Holland, but was interrupted by Chase, stating that he had unfinished business with Holland. After Holland came to the ring, Chase challenged Holland to a match, where if Chase loses, Chase University would be forced to disband. After initially refusing, Holland changed his mind and accepted after Williams added the stipulation that the winner would challenge him for the NXT Championship at Deadline. The match was then made official for the following week,[8] which Holland won, forcing Chase University to disband and making the title match official for NXT Deadline.[9]
On the November 12 episode of NXT, NXT General Manager Ava met with several NXT tag teams, stating that she wanted a team to challenge Nathan Frazer and Axiom for the NXT Tag Team Championship.[8] During subsequent episodes, various NXT tag teams brawled with each other, coming to a head on the November 26 episode, where Ava announced that on the following episode, a battle royal would be held, with the winning team earning a match for the NXT Tag Team Championship at NXT Deadline.[10] The match was won by No Quarter Catch Crew (Myles Borne and Tavion Heights).[11]
Through September 2024, Jaida Parker and Lola Vice had feuded with Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Jazmyn Nyx) while simultaneously feuding with each other. The two agreed to put their differences aside to team up against Jayne and Henley for NXT's October 1 premiere on The CW, which they lost after Parker walked out on Vice.[16] After a backstage brawl, NXT General Manager Ava announced that Parker and Vice would face each other in a Hardcore match at NXT 2300, with former ECW manager Dawn Marie serving as the special guest referee.[15] There, Parker defeated Vice after hitting her with a brick.[7] On the November 19 episode, Parker lost her Iron Survivor qualifying match after interference from Vice.[9] On the next episode, Vice challenged Parker to a NXT Underground match.[10] On the December 3 episode, Parker competed in a Last Chance fatal four-way match for the final spot in the Iron Survivor Challenge, but failed to win after interference from Vice as a brawl ensued between the two. Parker subsequently accepted the challenge for the NXT Underground match, wanting the match to take place on that's night episode. However, Ava scheduled the match for NXT Deadline.[11]
